Cole woke early the next day and listened over the baby monitor for Olivia. He chastised himself for the millionth time that he still had one for her, but he couldn’t help it. On the rare nights he was able to drop off to sleep and stay that way, he slept so soundly he would never hear her if something was wrong. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself. He still had the monitor because he feared he would wake up some night and she wouldn’t be on the other end of it. Like Penny. He knew it was a ridiculous reason, there was nothing wrong with Olivia, but it was like a security blanket for him.

Cole rose from the bed and listened to her soft breathing before putting the monitor back on the dresser. He started his normal routine of shower, shave, and suit up for the day. Olivia had been so excited when they got home, she spent the entire evening bouncing on her mini trampoline. She was excited because she’d be spending the whole weekend at her grandparents’ house. They were being great, helping Cole out so he could keep the shop open, and Olivia loved being on the lake. Cole decided to give her a few more minutes of sleep though. When she’d crashed the night before, she fell asleep hard, and sleeping this late was unusual for her.

He went downstairs, carrying the monitor with him, and began brewing coffee and making pancakes for Olivia. It wasn’t hard to make Mickey Mouse pancakes. Just three circles, two small attached to a large one. The problem came when she asked for Minnie Mouse. The first time he attempted the bow on top, he ended up with a deformed blob. She’d asked him why he made her Flubber, the green blob-like character from the Disney movie of the same name. Now whenever she asked for Flubber, he added green food coloring to the batter mix. But today he just went with Mickey, because he had to drive her out to her grandparents before the store opened.  

It wasn’t long before she came downstairs in her nightgown, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

“Morning, pumpkin.”

“Morning, Daddy.”

“I made Mickey today.”

She frowned but sat at the table.

“Everything OK?” Cole looked at her pale face.

“I dreamed about Mommy.”

“Are you OK, sweetie? Do you want to talk about it? You can stay home this weekend if you want, I’ll call Grandma!”

“No! I want to go to Grandma’s. Please! I’m OK, Daddy, really.”  

Cole bit his lip. He wanted to be there for her, but he didn’t know how. “Alright Olivia. If you really are OK.”

“Yes, I’m OK.”  

Cole walked around the table, and before she could take a bite of her pancakes, he scooped her up into his arms and hugged her. She rested her head on his chest, and he just wished he could hug her tight enough to help mend the broken, hurting pieces of her heart. Or maybe that was what he needed himself? Cole let her go and they continued with their usual routine.

* * *

As he pulled into the cape-style home in Cathance, Loretta was already in the driveway waiting for them. He got out of the car and unbuckled Olivia, who went bounding up to her grandmother and was immediately enveloped in a big hug. Cole grabbed his daughter’s overnight bag and approached the silver-haired woman. She was tall and thin and looked about twenty years younger than her age. She still loved to kayak on the lake and walk along the beach and it was undoubtedly her active lifestyle that kept her looking so fresh. Cole was confident she was able to keep up with Olivia.

“Mom,” Cole kissed her forehead. He’d been calling her mom for ages. The day he and Penny got married she’d insisted on it. It felt weird to call her Loretta now.

“How was the drive?” She hugged him around the waist. Even though she didn’t look the part, she still smelled like cinnamon and honey. She must have been baking.

“It was alright.”

“Are you coming in for coffee? Breakfast?”

“I’d love to, but I have to get to the shop. Thanks for having Olivia so much lately.”

“Anytime, Cole. You know that. Is everything OK?”

“Yeah, yeah. Olivia said she dreamed about her mom this morning though. She didn’t say what it was about, so just let me know if she needs me? I’ll come right back and get her.”

“Cole, she’s going to be fine. Besides, if she needs to talk about Penny, then who better to listen than Bill and me?”

Cole nodded, feeling the lump in his throat. It still felt strange to talk to Mom about Penny. She’d adjusted better than Cole had, and Bill had built a canoe and named it The Penny. All he’d done was run to the next county over. Cole felt bad, like he wanted to say something, but the words just kept getting lost. Mom knew though, she understood. She patted his cheek and turned back to the house where Olivia stood waiting on the front step.

Cole walked to the car and just as he was about to get in, Olivia ran up to him.

“Wait Daddy! Wait!” She launched herself and he caught her mid-air and swung her around in a hug. She giggled. “You can’t leave without giving love, Daddy,” she admonished.

He grinned into her hair, and only after he was pushing the time to get back to the store for opening did he let her down again. That, and she started squirming after five minutes. Mom waited patiently, smiling at the front door, and Cole watched as Olivia ran back to the house. He waved as he pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the road, then he let out the breath he always held whenever he had to be around Loretta and Bill. Bill’s truck hadn’t been in the driveway, so Cole figured he must have already been up and about, running some errand early on a Saturday morning.

Cole never permitted himself to feel the way he did as he drove away. He only allowed himself the time it took to drive back to the store to feel relieved that he had time where he wasn’t solely responsible for his daughter. He felt like an ass sometimes for feeling this way, but he couldn’t help it. Being a single parent was hard. Harder than anything he’d ever done, and in some ways, he looked forward to his small breaks. He knew she was in good hands but he still felt like an awful person for feeling relieved. He’d brought it up with a counselor once, wanting to know what was wrong with him. He loved Olivia, so he didn’t understand why for half an hour, after he dropped her off with Mom and Pop, he felt lighter, a little freer, like it was OK to enjoy his break. The counselor told him it was a very normal reaction, that it didn’t make him a bad parent or father, it just made him human, and that was OK.

Cole was having a hard time wrapping his brain around the fact that he didn’t need to be a super dad all the time. He didn’t want to let Penny down, so he compromised with himself. He would never let that feeling come over him when Olivia was home, and he only got to think about it and enjoy it on the drive back to the shop. The counselor told him that wasn’t a healthy coping mechanism, that he had to actually feel what he felt, but he decided he didn’t want counseling anymore. He had a schedule, a plan for himself. Deviating from that emotionally was not a part of the plan.  

Cole pulled into the alley between his shop and the candy store next door. The couple who owned the candy store lived in the apartment above and didn’t have a car, so they’d been kind enough to allow him to use their parking spot. Cole entered the bookstore through the back entrance and paused to inhale, one of his favorite moments of the day. The smell of ink, paper, and musty pages saturated the room. His office was neat and tidy, but the storage room off to the side was laden with boxes, packing material for shipping orders, and overstock from the shelves. Cole made his way up front and began the day by first checking the register and security cameras, then doing a walk-through of the store to see if there were shelving areas that needed attention or tidying. He also checked to see if any of the back stock could be brought out. When it was time, he unlocked the front door, but wasn’t at all surprised no one had come in yet. It was still only nine in the morning, and the tourists and townies didn’t get going until about midday.

Cole made his way into the office, set the coffee machine up, and had just begun to brew a pot when he heard the tinkle of the bell out front. He peeked his head around the corner to look out over the register, which was a full bar top, converted to allow him to keep things organized near the register. The underside was hollow except for the front panel, so customers couldn’t see behind the counter, and there was a small flip up counter to the right, which met the first bookshelf, so he could walk out into the store. He didn’t see anyone browsing so he called, “Be with you in a moment!”

He hurried back to the coffee pot, poured a cup, and walked up to the rear of the counter. He set the cup next to the register behind the panel and drummed his fingers. He debated going to find whoever was in the shop, he didn’t want to seem too pushy, but at the same time, he wanted to offer assistance if they were looking for something in particular. He decided making the offer to help was in his best interest, so he flipped up the counter, and moved into the stacks, peering down each aisle to see if he could spot the customer. He found him in the very last row, and Cole was surprised to see Mason again so soon.

“Mason! This is a surprise. Can I help you find something?” Cole held out his hand, thought about it, then shoved his fists in his pockets.

Mason turned with a broad smile. His green eyes lit up when he saw Cole standing there. He seemed so different, more intense than he’d been the last time they’d met. Maybe it was because he was dressed casually, but it did nothing to lessen the effect. He was wearing black jeans, boots, and a white, stretchy, long-sleeved t-shirt that hugged all the muscles of his chest and abdomen, taking Cole’s breath away. He was masculinity all wrapped up in modernity and Cole had the strangest feeling the clothes were just a cover. Like this man preferred to be naked, in the woods, hunting. Cole shook his head. He didn’t know why he thought that. Maybe because this morning he’d looked at some tribal books about modern men who still lived wildly. It was frowned upon here in America, but Cole thought it was interesting how it was still embraced in some parts of the world. Someday, he would very much like to meet one of the tribesmen.

“I’m just browsing for now, thanks. How’s Olivia?”

“Oh, she’s great. She’s at her grandparents for the weekend.”

“Is she? I’m sure she’ll be excited to tell us all about it on Monday at school.”

“Yeah. I run the shop late on the weekends and it gives her a chance to spend time with her grandparents. Her mom’s parents, that is.”

“I see. And you? What do you do after the shop closes on the weekends?”

“Uh, I go home. I guess. I don’t really do much of anything.”

“Ah. A creature of habit,” Mason smiled and Cole found himself transfixed. He blinked, trying to clear his head, wondering where the sudden burst of lust had come from.

“Umm, you could come over for a beer, tonight. If you wanted. I mean…what am I saying? This is awkward. I meant there’s a game on tonight. Baseball. Yeah, baseball. You could come watch the game if you want.” Oh shit! Did he really just do that? Grown men don’t babble! Cole could feel the color rise in his cheeks and he fought hard to keep his face passive, but there was no denying the flush creeping up his neck. Mason held his gaze for what felt like an eternity, and Cole wondered if he was going to start laughing at him, but he didn’t. He seemed to release a breath of his own and after a while he nodded.  

“That sounds good. If you want, I’ll bring nacho stuff.”  

Cole could only nod numbly as he continued to stare. Why was he so awkward? Had it been this hard to talk to Penny when they first met? He didn’t think so. He tried to think of all the times they’d brought another man home, before her health deteriorated. She enjoyed being in control and introducing him to some kinks he might not have otherwise had the courage to explore. She somehow knew he was bisexual, and it took him a few years of marriage to admit it, but she’d been patient and kind, then she’d encouraged him to explore that side of himself. She told him it fulfilled something for her too, and she didn’t mind as long as there was always communication, trust, and respect. He never deviated from that. He never once tried to find another man without her. It had always been her who suggested someone, and if he was comfortable, an invitation would be extended for that man to come over. If either one of them was uncomfortable, they called a halt to any activities immediately and then talked about it. Cole had been secure in his marriage and his alternative lifestyle. Now he wasn’t sure of anything. Without Penny here, he felt like somehow he was doing it all wrong.

“I like nachos.” He was such a nerd. He owned a bookstore for Pete’s sake. He read all the time and considered himself to be moderately intelligent, so why couldn’t he come up with something more profound than “I like nachos?” Cole was having one of those moments where he really wished the floor would open up and swallow him. His own version of hell would be to drown in a sea of nachos and cheese, but it would be more tolerable than the embarrassment he was feeling right now. His cheeks were flaming red and Mason’s lips were twitching as he watched him. The guy was clearly trying not to laugh, and Cole almost felt like it would just be better if he did, it would get the humiliation out the way, but Mason held on.  

Cole looked around at the shelves where they were standing. He was absentmindedly looking for a book Mason might find interesting. He needed a level playing field, something he could grasp onto and discuss intelligently. Something to take his mind off the awkwardness he’d created.  

“The occult?” he asked, surprised when the titles started to register through the haze of shame.  

“Yes, well, not the occult or Satanism, I find the more organic practices interesting. Druidry, Wicca, things like that. I enjoy reading about how the symbolism ties in with nature and connects with everything.”

Cole nodded. It wasn’t his business to judge what other people practiced. He remembered feeling very disconnected at Penny’s funeral. It had been a Christian funeral, and he’d been stuck in his own mind. He remembered at one point, whether it was her funeral or his parents he couldn’t remember, wondering when someone dies whether they were automatically referred to the Christian process, or if they had the option of other religions? Cole supposed this must be true because he’d been to several weddings and funerals of friends who weren't Christians, but he’d never really given any thought to what happens with pagan practitioners.

“Well I have a great selection, as you can see, and if you need help finding anything, please let me know. I'll be up at the front.”

Mason nodded and picked a book off the shelf. Cole turned around, walked back to the front desk, and picked up his coffee, feeling like an idiot. He considered ordering more books about witchcraft just so he could have something to talk to Mason about, but that seemed stupid and more than a little obvious. He milled around the front desk, looking for something to try to keep his hands busy and occupy his mind, but all he really wanted to do was go back and talk to Mason. When Mason finally came to the front desk, he had a stack of books with him, and Cole ran them through the register without really looking at the titles. After he finished paying, Mason stood there staring at him, but Cole couldn't figure out what he wanted. Finally, Mason turned around and left and, just as the bell tinkled, Cole remembered he’d forgotten to tell Mason where he lived. He ran out of the bookstore just as Mason was getting in his car.

“Hey, I forgot to tell you my address.”

“That's OK. I know where it is because of Olivia's file. But what time do you want me to come over tonight?”

“Oh. I didn't even think of that. How about eight-thirty? The shop closes at eight and that gives me time to get home.”

“Sounds like a plan. I can't wait to see you then.”  

He winked and backed out of the parking spot, leaving Cole standing there staring after him. What was it about this man that intrigued him so much? Cole spent the rest of the day with his mind at home rather than in the shop, running through the house thinking of all the embarrassing things he would like to have tucked away before Mason arrived, but knowing that he wouldn't get home in time to clean up. The shop was busy, which kept him from going completely insane, but by the time eight o’clock rolled around, Cole was a nervous wreck. He couldn’t stop second-guessing himself, thinking that inviting Mason over had been a bad idea. He forced himself to drive the speed limit back to his house and arrived home at eight-fifteen, which gave him just enough time to run upstairs and change out of his work clothes into something more casual. He opted for running pants and a plain t-shirt, which he was just pulling over his head when the doorbell rang.

“Just a minute!” he called.

Cole ran down the stairs, tripping over one of Olivia's dolls. He stumbled to the door, opening it in a hurry, afraid Mason would change his mind and leave. Cole was torn between wanting that to happen and wanting Mason to stay, and he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to eat nachos because his stomach hurt from nerves. When he opened the door he found Mason looking as casual as he had that morning, holding a large tinfoil wrapped tray in one hand and a six-pack in the other.

“Here, let me take that for you,” Cole held out his hand, taking the tray. “Come in! Come in,” he stepped back, to let Mason enter the hallway. Mason looked around, observing the pictures of Olivia and her artwork, and he frowned.

“Something wrong?” Cole asked.

“Not at all. I guess I just expected to see more family pictures.”

Cole shrugged. He didn't really know how to answer that. It had been too hard living in the old house, having pictures of Penny with him and Olivia hanging everywhere, knowing she was never coming back. He’d tried to make up for it with pictures of just Olivia, but he supposed that was very noticeable to someone expecting the walls to be decorated in a sort of homage to Olivia's mother.

“I didn't know if it would upset Olivia,” that was the best explanation he could give.

“I understand. I didn't mean to upset you. I was just wondering why there aren’t more pictures of you and Olivia as well.”

“I guess because it didn't seem fair to have pictures of her and me but not her and her mother.”

“That makes sense. I got it, but you should know she talks about you both all the time.”

“Thanks. So, um, how long do these need to go in for? The oven I mean,” he held up the tray and Mason looked at it.

“I'd say maybe fifteen minutes.”

“Excellent. Do you want a glass for your beer or do you drink straight out of the bottle?”

“The bottle is fine, thanks.”

Cole turned away not really knowing what else to say at that point. So far, they only had Olivia to talk about and he wasn't sure what else they might have in common. He was second-guessing inviting him over here again but he hadn't really tried to make any friends since he'd moved into town. It might be nice to just hang out with one of the guys. Cole walked down the hallway and entered the kitchen, putting the nachos in the oven. Mason followed him, taking in the house. Cole wished he'd had time to pick up after Olivia.

“Sorry about the mess. Olivia and I were in a hurry this morning and I didn't have a chance to pick up.”

“Don't be sorry. I don't mind. The only thing I can look forward to tripping over on the floor of my place is dead rodents from my cat, Zemi. Having a child must be nice.”

“Yeah, but you have all kinds of kids as a teacher.”

“True, but it would be nice to come home to my own sometime.”

“So, there’s no one in your life to make that happen for you?” Cole wasn't sure if he was asking because he was just curious, or if he was asking because he was hoping the answer was no and it might justify the attraction he was feeling. The latter was truthful and the former a bit selfish, but he couldn't help it.

“No. There's no one.” Mason cracked the top off a couple of beers and handed one to Cole. They clinked the necks together and each took a sip, eyeing each other over the tops of the bottles.   

Cole felt like he should say something, change the subject maybe. “So, um, were the books useful?”

“What?” Mason looked distracted, like he’d been deep in thought and Cole had interrupted the trip to wherever his brain had gone.  

“The books you bought this morning. Were they helpful or interesting?”

“Oh yeah. I used one of them today.”

“Used?”

“Well, what would be the point of buying a practitioner’s guide if I didn’t practice?”

Cole thought about that for a moment. He hadn’t given it a lot of thought. He just figured Mason was like most people, he bought the books, then they would sit on a shelf collecting dust until he spotted one out of boredom and decided to flip through it, or the great spring cleaning purge came with the “if you haven’t used it in three months, it has to go” rule.  

“Does it bother you?” Mason took another swig of his beer.  

Cole had to think about that, too. Sure it was easy to say, to each their own.  But he could honestly say although he’d never met a practicing witch before, he didn’t mind.  He was different himself in some ways. “No, but I’m afraid I know very little about it. Do you do, like, spells and stuff?”

Mason laughed. It was a deep, rich laugh that made his whole body shake, and it took Cole’s breath away.  

“You can see how ignorant I am about the subject.” Cole smiled nervously as Mason continued to chuckle.

“Yes, and just so you know, I only fly my broom on Tuesdays, when traffic is a nightmare on Main Street, and I boil toads in a cauldron on Fridays, when the local high school isn’t putting on a spaghetti dinner to benefit one team or another.”

“Toads?”

“Hey, man, if there’s no spaghetti, a man’s gotta eat, right?” He chuckled again at his own joke.

Cole relaxed. There was still a small part of him that was nervous. He genuinely didn’t want to offend Mason, but he was curious.  

Mason looked up and seemed to guess he was trying to think of the politically correct way of asking about his practice and he answered for him. “It’s pretty basic. I have what you’d expect, a lot of candles and incense. What people don’t understand about it is that they’re not for the mystique, they’re to help cleanse and purify the air. I believe in energy. Everything leaves an impression, even bad energy, so the candles and sage and all that helps keep the energy around my house pure.”

“That’s kind of cool.”

“Well, I get a lot of flak for being a guy and having so many candles that stink pretty, but no one ever seems to think to ask why. You looked like that was the direction your mind was headed, so I figured I’d fill in the blanks.”

“I think it’s fascinating. At the store, I get so many books about so many different topics I don’t always have time to look through them. Of course, the ones filed under pagan practices, that stand out, are the satanic books and books about the occult. The witchcraft books see a lot of interest from teenage girls and are pretty…”

“Feminine?”  

“Yes.”

“Well, there aren’t a lot out there that cater specifically to men, but we do exist. Once a month I go and visit with about five other men who practice in the city. We talk a lot about spells and stuff, but it’s not the kind of spells your teenage girls are likely to be into.”

“You don’t want the local college football star to fall madly in love with you then?” Cole was taking a chance by interjecting his own joke. He bit his lip and waited for Mason’s reaction. It surprised him when he got a smile but then Mason ducked his head shyly.

“Nah, not the college star. He’s too young for me.”

It took Cole a minute to catch on to what he was saying and when he did he didn’t notice the oven timer beeping.

“The nachos are done.”  

Mason’s voice was soft, and Cole mechanically turned, bent over the oven door, and removed the tray with the mitt. Mason had just dropped a bombshell of a clue about himself and Cole wasn’t entirely sure what to do about it. It seemed like they were beating around the bush about taboo subjects, yet when they touched on something, it didn’t upset either of them, it just took them a moment to adjust. Cole found he liked the feeling. It was a natural sort of nervousness, and scored another point for his team because it meant he wasn’t entirely unfounded in thinking there was an attraction to Mason he couldn’t figure out.

“So, apart from candles and your broom rides on Tuesday traffic days, what do you do?” He figured sticking to a safer topic was best, and if Mason wanted to talk about the other, then he’d be open to it but let him bring it up.

“There’s a lot of chanting and meditation. I love being in the woods so I’m outside a lot, collecting things to add to my altar.”

“You have an altar?” Cole used a spatula to scoop some cheesy chips onto plates for them both.

“Yeah, but that’s also not what you think.”

“Well, tell me about it, if you don’t mind. I’m pretty open-minded.” He turned and looked into Mason’s eyes, trying to portray he meant that about a lot of things. Mason gave a slight jerk of the head and Cole felt the breath he’d been holding release, and along with it, the tightness in his chest abated.  

“Your teenagers are probably setting up candles, charms, maybe even going so far as to add blood and other organic materials to it. I’m not big on the ritualistic side. I find stuff when I’m out hiking, like rocks and leaves that look cool. Sometimes I find exoskeletons of bugs that are still intact, and that’s about as creepy as I get. It’s more like an altar to pray to my Gods, that shows them I notice the things they’ve sent to this earth. Does that make sense?”

“Completely. In Christianity there’s similar vices, if you will, like communion, candles that are lit in the Catholic church to pray for the deceased. And I don’t think I’ve ever been to a holiday or celebration where there hasn’t been flowers or plants of some kind. From everything you’re describing, you have similar rituals that include just being thankful, and you might show that in a different way, but essentially you’re still praying.”

“It’s nice that you recognize that. You should come, if you’re interested, to next month’s meeting. The guys would like you.”

Cole hadn’t been expecting an invitation and it surprised him that Mason was comfortable enough to extend one.

“Thanks, I’d like that. I haven’t had the time to make many friends since we moved here.”

“You aren’t doing so bad right now.” Mason smiled, and Cole felt his cheeks flush again. Mason turned toward the door. “Living room in here?”    

He didn’t wait for a response, but went in and sat down on the couch, leaving Cole to trail after him. He picked up his beer and plate of nachos from the counter and smiled. He thought their initial jitters were over and he’d got through the awkward phase just fine. He felt more like himself than he had in a long time, and he had Mason to thank for making him feel so comfortable in his own skin.

Cole followed Mason into the living room and sat on the other end of the couch. There was an unwritten rule somewhere that you never sit in the host’s favorite seat, and Mason must have taken a stab at guessing Cole liked the far end by the window. His magazines and the remotes were on the end table, and there was a telling coffee ring on the coaster. Cole set his beer down and clicked on the TV. He kept peeking at Mason out of the corner of his eye. Here was the most enigmatic man he’d ever met. His daughter’s first grade teacher, a practicing witch, and possibly gay. It just goes to show you don’t really know someone and it’s not a good idea to judge a book by its cover. That was one of his best sales pitches at the shop. Sure, a cover is supposed to be eye catching, but then you start to dig a little. Read the back cover blurb, then maybe the first sentence. Cole felt like he’d been given the short version of Mason’s blurb, but he was intrigued and wanted to know more.   

Mason beat him to the punch when he asked, “So what motivated you to own a bookstore?”

Mason took a bite of nachos and looked over at him. He’d been halfway to his lips with his own nacho but put it back down. “I guess I just love stories. I know that’s weird. I rarely get to just sit at the store, crack a book open and read. I’m usually too busy, but one of my favorite places to be as a kid was at the bookstore. Most kids were at the park or the arcade, and I was at the local library or bookstore.”

“That’s not weird.”

“Well, it is if you get caught smelling the pages of the books.”

“OK, that is a little weird. Most kids sniff glue or other stupid stuff. What’s with the book highs?”

Cole chuckled. “Technology is taking over. There’s always going to be someone that wants an actual physical copy of a book in their hands though. Books smell as intriguing as the stories they contain. It’s like the combination of ink and paper is all wrapped up neatly in a perfect punch to the senses, like the climax of the story.”

Mason nodded his head. “You ever think about being a writer?”

“No, I don’t have time to write even if I had the skills. Not with the store and Olivia and well, yeah. Lately I just haven’t had the time.”

“Understandable.”  

“And what about you? What interested you in teaching?”

Mason bit into a chip, buying himself more time and Cole wondered if there was a personal reason. “I like kids. I love to teach kids.”

“That’s a pretty pat answer.” Cole grinned at him.

“Yes, but I think you can understand my position. There’s nothing saying I can’t be friends with my students outside school. But I also don’t make it a habit of telling people my eccentricities either.”

“They don’t bother me.” Cole set his nacho plate down on the coffee table and gave Mason his full attention. He wanted him to know he was serious. He couldn’t explain the attraction he felt, but he wanted him to know he had no qualms about anything Mason had divulged to him, or that he was teaching his daughter.

“I appreciate that. It’s a bit nerve-racking when you aren’t sure what someone will think about how different you are. I get a lot of people who give me funny looks because I’m 6’1” and a man. When people think about first grade teachers it’s Mrs. Sunshine in the sunny flower dress, who smells like chocolate chip cookies and crayons.”

“It’s interesting how perception and stereotypes often go hand in hand. But I want you to know it was surprising when I first met you, but I have no issue with you being any of the things you have told me.”

“Thanks. It’s nice there are still open-minded people in the world.”

Cole took a sip of his beer and checked the score on the game. His team was favorite and playing at their usual standard and it was only the second inning. Cole sat in comfortable silence for a while. At one point he got up and grabbed them each another beer, and they clinked bottles again. He hadn’t been this at ease in a long time and he was enjoying their conversation too. It would spring up during ads and Cole was grateful that for once, it didn’t have anything to do with Olivia or Penny. That might make him selfish, but Mason seemed genuinely interested in who he was as an individual.

“No way!” Cole sat up when Mason told him he lived about a mile through the woods behind him.

“Yeah, there’s a path that cuts through. Your end is pretty overgrown, but because I spend a lot of time in the clearing out there casting my mojo over people,” he winked. “My end is pretty easy to spot.

Maybe it was the beer buzz, and Cole wasn’t entirely sure he’d even murmured it until Mason’s eyes widened, lighting up from the soft glow of the TV screen. “I don’t mind if you’ve cast your mojo over me.” He quickly hid behind his beer bottle and was contemplating making a run for the kitchen feigning a need for more nachos, but Mason leaned toward him.

“You wouldn’t?”  

Cole gulped his beer which was an amateur move. It burned, and he coughed. He wasn’t usually a drinker. “What?” Something Cole couldn’t put a name to flashed in Mason’s eyes, but he was trying to switch gears, fast, in case he’d just run himself into an impending train wreck. It was one thing to invite a guy over for nachos and beer, it was another to hit on him when the premise had been to build a friendship. “Hey, I’m starving, is there anywhere in town that delivers pizza?” He rose from the couch and teetered a little. His head was swimming from the buzz.

Mason stood up quickly and cupped his elbow. “Hey, it’s alright. Why don’t you sit back down for a bit?”

Cole shook his head. His elbow was on fire where Mason was touching it. His skin tingled and he didn’t know why. Was this bound to happen with anyone he was attracted to after Penny? Or was it because of the beer? Or was it just the effect Mason had on him? Cole still wanted to run into the kitchen and put some distance between himself and Mason so he could think. The problem was, all he ever did was think, analyze and over analyze and it got him nowhere. But acting on impulse? That was a whole other ball game. He’d never openly admitted to a man he was attracted to him, even the ones he and Penny had entertained together.

Cole’s fingers began to shake and he had to set his beer bottle down. Mason tugged his elbow and he slowly sat back down on the couch. Instead of returning to his seat on the far end though, Mason sat right next to Cole, and Cole could feel his heart race.  

“There hasn’t been anyone since, has there?”  

Mason didn’t need to elaborate any further. Cole knew exactly what he meant. He shook his head, not daring to look at Mason. Every time he did, he became transfixed. Mason didn’t need to be a witch casting a spell, he was an enchantment himself. He was one of Cole’s book covers grabbing his attention so he was distracted and spellbound.

Cole was trying to think of something to say. Anything. Maybe even apologize for overstepping his bounds, but then he felt Mason’s fingers under his chin, and his whole body tensed as he tipped his chin up so their eyes met. He didn’t have a chance to say anything before Mason leaned in and brushed his lips across his own. It was a deer-in-the-headlights moment. He sat, frozen, unable to react and unable to kiss Mason back the way he wanted to, because he was in shock. Then he felt the tip of Mason’s tongue on his lips and he groaned. Then he melted.